Gynecology at Mary Washington Healthcare

Advanced Gynecological Care throughout Virginia

Mary Washington Healthcare is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of women throughout our community. Our hospitals are able to serve the OB/GYN needs of our patients in all of their life stages. We are able to provide everything from regular gynecological exams to minimally invasive surgery.

Treating Gynecological Cancer

Women with uterine and other gynecologic cancers can now undergo complex surgical procedures close to home through the Mary Washington Healthcare Women’s Health Institute. Local OB/GYN physicians have partnered with Mid-Atlantic Pelvic Surgery Associates, expert gynecologic oncologists who are now on staff at Mary Washington Hospital.

Cancers that occur in different areas of the pelvis, such as cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancers are defined as gynecologic cancers. These types of cancer can spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. According to the CDC, 71,000 women are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer each year in the United States. Gynecologic cancers have several possible treatments, including hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The most common treatment is the surgical removal of the uterus, known as a hysterectomy.

Minimally-invasive GYN surgery can also be used for:

• Suspicious masses – Most masses near or on the ovaries can be removed with a minimally-invasive approach. Once removed, our pathology team evaluates the mass under a microscope to determine if it is a cancer.
• Challenging hysterectomies – We can now offer minimally-invasive approaches to patients whose medical conditions or previous surgical history would have required a more invasive procedure.

Advances in equipment and techniques now allow hysterectomies to be performed with tiny abdominal incisions through which the surgeon works with the aid of miniature cameras with microscopes, tiny fiber-optic flashlights, high-definition monitors, and specialized precision tools.

Highly advanced, minimally-invasive surgery is often a viable option for women with gynecologic cancers and other challenging conditions. It results in shorter hospital stays, with dramatic decreases in postoperative discomfort and scarring. Our surgeon will work directly with you and your OB/GYN to determine if this type of procedure is the safest, most appropriate surgical treatment for your condition.

These surgeons work collaboratively with Mary Washington Healthcare credentialed medical and radiation oncologists, as well as OB/GYN physicians to determine the most appropriate plan of care.

MWHC Cancer Navigators

The MWHC Cancer Navigator Program is available to help you with determining your next steps if you have been diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. Call one of our Cancer Navigators at 540.741.1769 to discuss the minimally-invasive surgical treatment options available at Mary Washington Hospital.